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THE WONDER YEARS’ Danica McKellar Shares About Her Time As A Child Star

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THE WONDER YEARS’ Danica McKellar Shares About Her Time As A Child Star

By Movieguide® Staff

Actress Danica McKellar recently reflected on her years as Winnie Cooper and her on-screen relationship with Kevin Arnold, played by Fred Savage, in THE WONDER YEARS.

THE WONDER YEARS debuted in 1988. In the first episode, Winnie and Kevin share a kiss that sparks the characters’ romance throughout the show.

However, McKellar said that the affection for her co-star was genuine off-screen.

“I had a total crush on Fred,” McKellar told EW. “It was that little-kid crush where it’s so innocent and so intense. It’s not a little thing — you’re like, ‘I’m in love!'”

However, McKellar said their on-set relationship turned into a “brother-sister” friendship.

“I kind of thought he might have a crush on me too, but I didn’t know,” the actress said. “Later on, he actually wrote me a love letter in real life, and we wrote each other a couple letters. But then that was kind of it. When we came back to do more of the show, things quickly devolved into this annoying brother-sister relationship. When you’re a 12-year-old girl and somebody says, ‘Pull my finger,’ and then you learn what that is for the first time, you’re not charmed.”

“We were always really connected,” McKellar added.

To the annoyance of some fans, THE WONDER YEARS ends with Kevin and Winnie as friends and not romantically involved.

“People blamed me for that!” McKellar said. “People felt really betrayed. But the show wasn’t trying to show a perfect ending. It was about real life and how you deal with things, and how it’s OK if things don’t work out the way you thought they were going to.”

McKellar recently joined GAC Family for her first movie, THE WINTER PALACE.

Movieguide® previously reported:

McKellar signed a multi-picture deal with GAC, so fans of THE WINTER PALACE can expect to see McKellar in more GAC Family movies down the road.

“It’s been really exciting. I have been technically a producer on some of my past movies, but this is different. This is much more hands-on,” she explained. “I was heavily involved.”

“I’ve been acting since I was a child, back on THE WONDER YEARS. I’ve had so many experiences as an actress, but this has been the most fulfilling so far,” she added. “And I’m really excited about what I get to do moving forward on GAC family as well.”

McKellar said that she is thankful for THE WONDER YEARS and the platform it gave her for the rest of her career.

“It’s nice to have been a part of something that really was a family and meant so much to so many people,” she said. “I feel like that foundation has prepared me for my career now in a lot of ways. GAC family feels a lot like a family and people watch my movies and they remember me from THE WONDER YEARS and I know that that extra sense of nostalgia makes my movies even more warm and fuzzy for the audience, which I just love.”

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.